Hi guys

DM (degenerativ myelopathi (sp?)) in dogs is very similar to MS (multiple sclerosis) in humans. I know quite a lot about MS, but don't know much of DM other than what I've read so far.

Does any of you know weather "attack"s as in MS are known to happen to DM dogs?

Zigo has DM and is slowly getting more and more weak in his hind legs. But has really had some great days, weeks lately.

But today when I got home from work he couldn't walk :cry: His hind legs were really really weak and one of his front legs he wouldn't stand on either.

So question is - do dogs gets attacks like humans - rapid loss of e.g. strength in a leg but slowly getting better as time goes - sometimes might get back to normal.

He was better when I made him walk a bit, but one hind leg is still not looking too good, but he can walk.

He is sleeping now, bless him :hug:

Another Q : I've only read about it affecting the hind legs, but surely it must affect the front legs too sometimes (depending on which nerves are affected).

Hope it made sense.... :blink:

Hi Tina
I am not sure what you mean by attacks, if you mean stages where there is rapid deterioration then stabilisation for a while then yes.
As the disease progresses it can eventual affect the fore limbs, normaly this is in later stages and by then the dog is usualy incontinent aswell.

Have you read this? http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/dmfreetest.html

There is now a genetic test available for DM, OFFA are offering it free for dogs that showed clinical signs after the age of 10yrs.

OFA DM classification:
N.N. = normal, DM improbable.
A.N. = carrier, a chance on DM, but developing the disease unlikely.
A.A. = at Risk, do not breed with, how many dogs will actually develop DM is not known yet.

Yes that is what I meant, thanks :hug: But not only stabilisation - after the deterioration they might re-gain lost e.g. motor control or sensoric control, right?

ok thanks

Will go have a look.

Thanks a lot for your answer, Pam :hug:

Can't help you hun but massive hugs to you both xxxx :hug: :hug:

Oi Pam :slap: You call my boy a corgi? lol

Sorry Tina thought they would include the GSD as they are trying to research why some AA dont get the condition.
Can you please edit my previous post Incontent = incontinent

it is weird they haven't - as the gsd is the most common breed to get DM after what I've been reading so far :( . What do you mean by the AA? = some breeds?

It is edited :hug:

Zigo is back to "normal" again :hug:

Thanks especially to Vicki for being there listening to my rant, tanks again mate :friends:

Hi Tina glad Zigo is back to normal.

A.A. = at Risk, do not breed with, how many dogs will actually develop DM is not known yet.
AA refers to specific DNA markers.
Pam

Ok thanks Pam :friends:

Yes he walks "normal" (the same as he did before wednesday) but gets tired very fast. But almost back to normal woohoo

I am soooooooo glad to hear he is feeling a bit better Tina. Bigs for the gorgeous Boy :hug:

Sending my gorgeous Zigo and yourself loads of hugs :hug: xxxxxxx

Hi Tina,

I found this link about it, hope it helps in some way

http://www.mzjf.com/signs.html

and if you go to the bottom of this link page, there are also links to other DM related subjects.

thanks guys :friends:

Thanks for the links too, Stud :hug:

And sorry Pam. Just noticed you had written what AA meant in the first post :hammer: :oops:

Sorry I cant offer any info, but just wanted to say hope the gorgeous boy is ok :friends:

Thanks Sue :friends:

So do I. It has gotten worse again :(

really sorry zigo is having an off day spoony.... i really hope that he gets back to his normal self again soon.... :hug: to you both.... don't know if you have thought about taking him to hydrotherapy swimming, as this can be good for his condition spoony, as it can help his muscle wastage round his back end.

i found this spoony interesting read.. hope it helps lol

DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY

Degenerative Myelopathy - This is a slowly progressing degeneration of the myelin around the nerves of the middle of the back, slowing down the transmission of messages which results in increasingly severe effects on the mobility and manoeuvrability of the hindquarters.

Breeds - This disease is almost exclusive to the German Shepherd Dog and is generally seen from 7-8 years onwards, the most common age is around 10-11 years, the earliest age I have seen this is in a 6 year old.

Symptoms - There is a characteristic scraping of the hind feet, knuckling of the hind feet, wearing of the tops on the nails, a tangling of the hocks if they turn fast, troubling negotiating stairs especially descending, a very characteristic swaying pacing gait (almost an inability to trot correctly). There are proprioreceptive deficits in both hindlegs, one leg can be more affected than another. To test this, turn the toes of the hind foot underneath and see if they remain in that position for any length of time. In a normal dog, the return to the normal position is instantaneous (“righting reflex”), in affected dogs this is significantly slower and may take up to 10-15 seconds or longer.

There are several characteristics in this disease that are similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) in that similar abnormalities of the immune system and the type of nerve degeneration. The degeneration in these dogs always only affects the hindquarters.

The dogs follow a course of always step wise degeneration, plateauing out for a while before gradually getting worse again. The course of the disease generally takes 12-18 months, from the time symptoms are recognised, some dogs may last up to 2 years before the hindquarters no longer support them in any significant degree.

Treatment - The only good point in this disease is that it is not painful. Cortisones and other anti-inflammatory drugs have no effect on the progression of the disease but can help to cover any other degenerative joint disease present (HD, spondylitis etc). Some dogs benefit from additional Vitamin E (300-500 iu daily) and I find, some Selenium (Selim E tabs, 1 tab 2 x weekly). Some therapeutic benefit has been reported with the use of aminocaproic acid (Amicar, Lederle), 500mg given every 8 hours - progression of the degenerative process was slower in about 50% of treated dogs, and improvement occurred in some, benefits usually occurred within 8 weeks. [Neurology Textbook - reference - ]

This condition is an immune system failure. As it occurs almost exclusively in the GSD, there are obviously genetic factors involved. In my experience I have not been able to directly link and family groups/lines etc, and I feel, reflects more a failing in the immune system in general across the breed. This condition would affect around 5-8% of older German Shepherd Dogs.

Thanks Jodka :friends:

Spoony give him a big hug from me, as some of you know chevy also has been diagnosed with DM, so i know how spoony is feeling, i have upped chevy's Vit E + selenum tabs but give both daily in 1 capsul, also i give EPO, , he also has good days then bad days, but i'm happy at the mo as it's not progressing as fast as i was expecting it to,. 1 of my past dogs did have DM but he was nearly 12 when we had it diagnosed, Chevy will only be 6 in march, so i was shocked to get the diagnoses when we went to the vet,

Thanks Nellie

Big hugs for Chevy too. He is too bloody young for this **** :(

Vet isn't sure it is DM Zigo has anyways. He says it can either be DM or something with the nerves in the lumbo-sacral (sp) area. FOrgot what he called it, cos I'm convinced it is DM from the symptoms (he is the exact doggy image of the MS patients I work with every hour every day).

Sorry to hear about Chevy Nellie, poor lad, its not fair :(

Big hugs for Zigo and Chevy :friends: :wub: